A night to honor those in the Twin Cities who peacefully resisted federal immigration enforcement

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, the last surviving child of president John F. Kennedy, presented the JFK Library Profile in Courage award to the people of the Twin Cities for their reaction to Operation Metro Surge.

"Joining Chicago, Portland, and other communities, their compassion and unwavering commitment to the ideals that sustain our democracy inspired communities across this country, and forced the federal government to back down," Kennedy announced Sunday night.

Kennedy also honored Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis during the height of the federal surge in January and February.

“It’s wonderful just to be invited, honoring Renée,” Good’s father, Tim Granger, said as he entered the library with family members.

Appearing in a recorded message was Bruce Springsteen, who wrote a song - "Streets of Minneapolis" - about the Twin Cities during the immigration crackdown, and visited the state for performances at First Avenue and Target Center, along with a "No Kings" protest in March.

"You assured us that Alex Pretty and Renee Good's deaths were not in vain, when America needed you, you were there," Springsteen said. "So let me send you love, prayers, and thanks of a grateful country."

The Profile in Courage Award, first given out in 1990, honors public servants who make courageous decisions of conscience. Previous recipients include former Vice President Mike Pence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, former Republican Senator Mitt Romney, former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Presidents Barack Obama and George H.W. Bush, and civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis.

Imam Yusuf Abdulle, Co-Founder, Somali American Leadership Table and Executive Director, Islamic Association of North America; Natalie Ehret, Founder, Haven Watch; Carolina Ortiz, Associate Executive Director, COPAL; and Zena Stenvik, Superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools represented the people of the Twin Cities ceremony.

The JFK Library said "they reflect the broad coalition of communities that came together during the surge, and the many actions residents took to support their neighbors."

"We're sorry we couldn't have everyone from the Twin Cities here tonight, but we're lucky to have so many people hosting watch parties at home, and have with us four remarkable people to represent you," Kennedy added while presenting the award.

Attendee U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor of Minnesota next year, reflected that the award was unusual because it recognized ordinary residents rather than elected officials.

“This didn’t go to an elected leader for a reason,” Klobuchar said. “It’s because the people stood up. They stood up by marching 50,000 strong. They stood by bringing kids they didn’t even know — strangers’ kids — to school, by bringing them groceries and they didn’t blink. And that’s what this award is about. It’s about courage.”

Also receiving an award Sunday was former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who used one of his first major public appearances since leaving office to defend independent institutions. The award honored his efforts to preserve the central bank’s independence.

Powell called universities, courts, Congress and the central bank “the foundation and the embodiment of our democracy” and argued that the Fed’s independence was a “priceless asset” that must be protected.

It was one of his most direct defenses of Fed independence, warning that a single administration’s decision to remove bank officials over policy differences would open the way for future elected officials to follow suit, ultimately undermining the credibility that the Fed has spent decades building.

AP journalists Leah Willingham and Christopher Rugaber contributed to this story.